The Monday Memo from John Stanko

419: Taxi Thoughts

This Memo is different than any I have sent previously. I am actually writing this while in the back of a taxi driving through London on my way to Heathrow Airport (it’s a two-hour trip).  I depart tomorrow morning at 6:30 AM, which means I have to get up at 3:30 to get to the airport in time for check in.  So rather than have someone drive me in the morning, I am staying at a hotel by the airport tonight (Sunday).

My driver is from Nigeria and he is a believer.  He just told me his story of how he came to the Lord and it saved his marriage.  Now he has started a ministry to help others with their marriages.  I know Christians aren’t perfect, but I have met many dear, committed, devoted, creative and giving Christians all over the world.  God is faithful to raise up a people to honor His name in every nation. I like being a world (not worldly) Christian.

I am sitting here reflecting on how I got here – to London, teaching purpose, doing what I love in a country I have been visiting since 1993.  I spoke this morning in a church in the New Cross area of London – Micah Community Church – and gave my message on Abraham, “What You See is What You Get.”  It is the story of God telling Abraham to sacrifice his only son on Mt. Moriah.  There is so much in that passage, but then again, I guess I could say that about any passage.  Then after church the people assembled to hear my session on my fifth gold mine principle, which was another message on faith.  I love that message and had a chance to deliver the other four gold mine principles the day before.  All in all, I spoke 14 times since I arrived here Friday before last.  It was and is all very, very good.

So now I am heading to Kenya, another country I love.  I have a full week planned before I return home to work at a job I love in my local church.  What did I ever do to deserve all this?  Why has God given me the opportunities for such meaningful work with people I love in lands I always dreamed of visiting?  It is God’s grace I know, but I have tried to cooperate with that grace and give God something to work with, as meager as it may be.  I hope I have made a good partner.

Next week, I will resume the usual Monday Memo format and we will take a look at Gideon and the purpose lessons his life has for us.  Then we will look at Deborah after that and maybe Noah.  That should take us up close to the holidays and then after the first of year, it will be time to have another celebrate a failure emphasis.  By the end of the year, I will also finish the gospel of John in my weekly Bible studies.  After that, I will only have six short epistles until I have completed a verse-by-verse commentary for every book in the New Testament.  Thank You, Lord. 

So have a great week and forgive my ramblings this week. I don’t have much time, even now as I am in the lobby of my hotel and my battery is running low. 

The Monday Memo 246

When I arrived in Nairobi last week, I was informed that there were no hotel rooms due to a large international conference that the city was hosting.  After I spent the first night in a hotel that is best forgotten (see Take That One Off Your List), I decided that God had something better and set out to see what I could find.

The Nairobi Hilton gave me a room but said I absolutely, positively had to be out after three nights.  Since I needed a room for 10 nights, I decided to take what I could get and trust the Lord.  When the end of my stay came, I went and asked for an extension.  The Hilton said I could stay for two more nights, but then I absolutely, positively had to check out, since there would be no rooms available.

When the end of that stay came, I went and requested an extension.  They granted my extension until I departed Nairobi for Zimbabwe.  When I got my last extension, the desk clerk said to me, "You must have really been praying to God!"  I said, "No, I was really thanking Him for what I knew He would do."

TRUST

At no point did I ever doubt that God would provide me a room.  I prayed once and then spent my time thanking God for His provision--if not at the Hilton, then any place where I could rest in comfort and do my work.

This story is a typical example of my life the last few years.  God has been teaching me to trust Him in large and small ways.  I actually feel I am getting better at it!  The reason I didn't send a Memo out yesterday was that my computer "froze" after my son tried to load some basic software.  I said to the Lord, "If you want me to send out a Memo, then you need to help me get my computer fixed."  This morning a friend and brother found the problem and fixed it.  He said, "You need to thank God, Bill Gates and me for finding the problem."  I was able to thank two of the three on his list.

I can't begin to tell you how much time I have spent as an adult fretting about things that were beyond my control.  God has never failed me, yet I have regularly questioned His faithfulness.  In fact, God has never failed anyone and He's not about to ruin His perfect record on me--I'm just not worth it!

DO YOU HAVE YOUR TRUST ON?

So how about you?  How's your trust coming along?  Are you fretting over things over which you have no control?  Do you see daily challenges as an opportunity to worry, or as times to improve your trust?  Can you see that these challenges are the basis for new testimonies, new stories that speak of God's love and care?

So here I am in Zimbabwe, sending out a Monday Memo not because I have a new system, but because of God's help.  I hope that you see God's hand in your current situation, and that you will increasingly entrust your purpose and productivity to a God who never slumbers nor sleeps, who is capable of doing anything.  And if you ever need a room in Nairobi, I suggest you go check out the Hilton. 

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1.  For the last few years, I have sent out a personal monthly prayer letter to those who had expressed an interest in receiving it.  When I was sick in Nairobi last week, I was impressed that I needed to increase my prayer covering.  So from now on, I will attach my monthly prayer to one Monday Memo every month.  You will find the May edition at the end of this Memo.  I invite you to pray for PurposeQuest and the message that I carry to the nations of the world. 

2. If you need to change your address to which this Memo is sent, hit the unsubscribe link below this automatic Feedblitz mailout.  Then go to this link and enter your new email address in the box in the right hand column.  You can add a gift subscription by going to the link and adding the new email address of the person you think would benefit from The Monday Memo. 

And the archives of past Monday Memos can still be located on my website. 

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3.  If you would like to unsubscribe, just click the link below (if you receive this as an automatic message). 

4.  I have a new updated version of my article How To Survive Working in the Local Church on my website.  It now includes a self-assessment tool that can help you understand your ability to function in a local church setting.

5.  The weekly Bibles study from Corinthians is up and running, with study six going out last week.  I am delighted that it is growing faster than the Monday Memo at this point.  Many write to tell me they use it for their small groups and personal devotions.  If you would like to subscribe, go to the site and enter your email address. 

6.  I will be back in Kenya from June 8 to June 18.  If you would like to book a profiling/purpose appointment, please email me at your earliest convenience. 

7.  I will be here in Zimbabwe through June 25, with some side trips booked during that time.  If you would like to meet with me or schedule me to come to your church or business, email me as soon as possible. 

Monthly Prayer Letter:  Download may_prayer_letter.doc

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